Church of St Andrew in Mošnje

This church in the village of Mošnje is widely held to be one of the oldest churches in Slovenia. This Romanesque basilica, with Gothic and Baroque alterations, features preserved frescoes that date back to the fifteenth century. The parish Church of St Andrew is surrounded by old farmhouses and still represents the focal point of the village.

The church was already standing on its current site in the twelfth century. Its front facade is simple and features an attractive entrance portal made from Peračica Quarry tuff. Wall paintings on the outer walls of the presbytery and church tower have been preserved. The magnificent fifteenth century painting of St Christopher has been restored; St Christopher was once the saint prayed to for protection from sudden death: many believed that catching sight of his image in the morning would save them from sudden death for the rest of the day.

Originally, the church was a three-nave Romanesque basilica with a higher central nave and lower aisles. During the Gothic period, a tower was built on the church's northern side. At the same time, the aisles were raised and the new extensions were furnished with ribbed vaulting. During the Baroque period, the presbytery's ceiling was raised, which is reflected in the fact that the preserved Gothic wall paintings do not extend all the way to the top.

Furthermore, part of the Gothic wall paintings have also been preserved. The ribs in the vaulting are embellished and the four fields of the vault feature portrayals of angels. In the arch to the right, there are paintings of St Magdalene and St Helen. The presbytery features frescoes which date back to the fifteenth century and portray scenes detailing the martyrdom of the apostles.